The answer: Assuming that you’ve cut calories and you're sticking to a workout routine, you can notice weight-loss results within a week, says Dulan.

However, keep in mind that weight-loss results aren’t just measured by the number on the scale—in fact, the scale can be deceiving, says Dulan. See, your new diet and exercise regimen burn fat—but you’re also building muscle, which weighs more than fat and can prevent the scale from shifting. And that’s not a bad thing because building muscle mass fires up your metabolism to torch more calories even when you’re not working out.

To prove to yourself that you are making progress—even when your weight stays the same—Dulan recommends doing a jeans test. Find a pair you’re aiming to squeeze into, and see how your body feels in them. As you clean up your diet and clock more sweat sessions, you’ll likely notice a gap between your belly and jeans because your body is becoming leaner—even if that isn’t immediately obvious when you step on the scale.